LITCHFIELD — Sgt. First Class John McCann, a Minnesota National Guard recruiter in Litchfield, has been honored as an Outstanding National Guard/Reserve Enlisted Person of the Year for 2012.

The American Legion Department of Minnesota annually honors an individual from each of the guard and reserve branches of the armed forces for outstanding service to the military and to their community.

Award winners are nominated by Minnesota Legion posts. McCann received the award during the annual American Legion Fall Conference Oct. 27 at Breezy Point.

McCann, 47, of Eden Valley, has been a member of the Minnesota National Guard for almost 30 years. He joined the Guard as a senior at Litchfield High School and has received numerous medals and commendations for his recruiting and retention achievements over the years.

Along with his National Guard activities, McCann has spent many seasons coaching and mentoring for community education in the Eden Valley-Watkins Public Schools. He is commander of the Nelsan-Horton Legion Post 104 in Litchfield, where he has also served in other post capacities.

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Award winners are nominated by Minnesota Legion posts. McCann received the award during the annual American Legion Fall Conference Oct. 27 at Breezy Point.

McCann, 47, of Eden Valley, has been a member of the Minnesota National Guard for almost 30 years. He joined the Guard as a senior at Litchfield High School and has received numerous medals and commendations for his recruiting and retention achievements over the years.

Along with his National Guard activities, McCann has spent many seasons coaching and mentoring for community education in the Eden Valley-Watkins Public Schools. He is commander of the Nelsan-Horton Legion Post 104 in Litchfield, where he has also served in other post capacities.

Posted: 2015-03-30 10:37 AM
The US has been aiding countries in the region to improve their defence and military capacities as well as their relations with the NATO. The main tool for this goal is the US State Partnership Programme, in which the US National Guard partners with states from the former Soviet Bloc.

"In the process of upgrading the capabilities of the armed forces of small, transitional countries, co-operation with developed, democratic countries and their military structures [is necessary]," Zvonimir Mahecic, an external expert at the Institute for International Relations in Zagreb and a retired colonel from the Croatian military, told SETimes. "Through joint activities, militaries as well as civilians of small countries are getting a chance to learn from the experiences of military structures that had passed through significant development and adjustment to the needs of combat and non-combat operations of the 21st century. This kind of co-operation represents a great chance to transfer knowledge and achieve implementation. One example of this type of co-operation is between the Minnesota National Guard and Croatian."

Posted: 2015-03-25 08:45 AM CAMP RIPLEY, Minn. - "A Gold Star family member is a person who has lost a loved one who was serving our nation in the armed forces regardless of the circumstances of the death," said Survivor Outreach Services provider Amy Garber.

Bill Smith, father of Sgt. 1st Class Paul Smith, and Richard Cauley, father of Spc. George Cauley, two Gold Star dads, recently spoke about their sons and what it means to be a Gold Star father.

"Everyone's greatest fear is the thought they'll say something awkward [to a Gold Star family member]. We want to talk about our loved ones. The greatest sadness would be that no one would remember," said Bill Smith.

Posted: 2015-03-22 01:39 PM BLOOMINGTON, Minn. - Soldiers of Headquarters, Headquarters Company of the 334th Brigade Engineer Battalion took time away from training to celebrate Women's History Month with a look at the history of women in the Minnesota National Guard from someone who lived it.

Invited to speak at the event was Geraldine Longfellow. In 2008, Longfellow retired from the Minnesota Army National Guard at the rank of lieutenant colonel. She has since been brevetted to the rank of colonel.

Posted: 2015-03-18 03:40 PM CAMP RIPLEY, Minn. - For many Service members of the Minnesota National Guard, dedication to the community is as high of a priority as any other mission.

"We feel it is our duty, in our own communities, to ensure that our friends and neighbors are taken care of," said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Ryan Ross.

Ross, who has been an active member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota for over three years, as well as a member of the Minnesota National Guard, was recently recognized by the agency as "Big Brother of the Year" for the State of Minnesota.